現在我們再來練習怎么表達跟過去事實相反的條件和結果.下面我們還是請 老師用過去時態說出美國歷史上的一些事跡, 比方 "英國宣稱北美洲部分土 地屬于他們. 因此加拿大沒有變成美國的一部分." England claimed part of North America.Canada didn't become part of the U.S. 請你用 might 把句子改成 "如果英國沒有宣稱北美洲部分土地屬于他們, 加拿大就可能變成美國的一 部分." If England hadn't claimed part of North America, Canada might have become part of the U.S.這組練習里也有一些有用的詞匯, 比方 "解決" settle, "歧見" difference, "妥協" compromise, "反對" oppose. "避免" prevent 等等,請 你在作練習的時候特別注意聽. 你每作完一句老師就會念正確答案給你聽.

現在我們開始.

M: England claimed part of North America. Canada didn't become part of the U.S.

F: If England hadn't claimed part of North America, Canada might have become part of the U.S.

M: England and the U.S. settled their differences.They didn't go to war.

F: If England and the U.S. hadn't settled their differences, they might have gone to war.

M: England and the U.S. compromised. They didn't fight against each other.

F: If England and the U.S. hadn't compromised, they might have fought against each other.

M: The South opposed President Lincoln's policy. The Civil War couldn't be prevented.

F: If the South hadn't opposed President Lincoln's policy, the Civil War might have been prevented.

M: The South was defeated. The U.S. didn't become two countries.

F: If the South hadn't been defeated, the U.S. might have become two countries.

三.聽短文回答問題

今天我們要聽的文章簡單談到美國建國的經過; 文章里許多詞匯和句子都是 我們剛才練習過的.

現在請你注意聽. 等一會我們要根據文章內容問你幾個問題.

Compared to the history of China, the history of the United States is quite short. It began little more than 200 years ago. In 1776, 13 colonies located on the eastern coast of North America declared independence and fought a revolution against the British. In 1783 the colonists won the revolution and gained their independence.

After the revolution, the United States bought a large section of country from Napoleon of France. This purchase doubled the size of the United States. Napoleon needed money for his European wars. If he hadn't needed that money, the United States might have stayed a small country. Texas and most of what is now the southwestern part of the United States belonged to Mexico. The people of Texas fought a revolution against Mexico.

They became independent and joined the United States. Later, the United States and Mexico went to war. If Mexico had defeated the United States, in that war, California and New Mexico would have been part of Mexico today.

The British and the Americans both claimed the northwestern part of the country. They settled their differences with a compromise. South of the 49th parallel was the United States.

North of the 49th parallel was Canada which was controlled by England.

In 1861 one-half of the United States did go to war with the other half. This was the Civil War.

President Lincoln wanted to free slaves. He was supported by the North but opposed by the South. The South wanted to separate from the rest of the country and become independent. After 4 years of war, the South was defeated.

Following the Civil War, the United States bought Alaska from Russia. At that time many people didn't think Alaska was important, but today it is the largest state in the country and a very important one too.

現在請你回答下面三個問題. 你回答之后, 老師會念出正確答案給你聽, 讓你 作個比較, 看你答對了沒有.

第一個問題是:

M: How did the United States become a country?

F: Colonists defeated the British in a revolution.

第二個問題是:

M: Which countries have sold land to the U.S.?

F: France and Russia have sold land to the U.S.

第三個問題是:

M: What was the outcome of the U.S.-Mexican War?

F: Mexico was defeated. California and New Mexico became part of the U.S.